In a flash, Xie Sui’an rolled over and hid on the rooftop. After coming to her senses, she realized that the familiar voice seemed to be Nanyi’s.
Xie Sui’an realized the situation inside had changed. She had no time to wonder how Nanyi had mixed into the banquet or what exactly was happening inside. Since Nanyi had chosen to use such a risky method to “startle the snake by beating the grass,” there must be enormous danger. She dared not linger and immediately left.
Gusha was somewhat annoyed. He also knew that this had ruined everything—the plan to lure the enemy deep had failed. He angrily scolded Nanyi: “Where did this person come from? What nonsense are you spouting, you wench?”
“This servant, this servant just vaguely saw a dark shadow…”
She was still acting, her voice so soft it seemed drawn into a thread, answering pitifully, with each word’s warm breath exhaling beside Xie Queshan’s neck.
Xie Queshan suddenly became somewhat irritated. She really didn’t need to learn everything so quickly, even picking up seven or eight parts of a singing girl’s seductive charm.
With a cold face, he pushed her down without any tender consideration.
“Meddlesome fool—get lost.”
Nanyi was pushed to the ground. The force he used was just right—it didn’t hurt. She was somewhat confused. Could he let her go so easily? But since he had spoken, how could she not run? She hurriedly got up, but when she raised her eyes, she unexpectedly saw that the singing girl beside Xie Zhu looked somewhat wrong, as if she had slipped something into Xie Zhu’s hands. But everyone’s attention was on her, so no one noticed them.
That singing girl—she was a Bingzhu Bureau spy!
Nanyi realized what was about to happen. She wanted to quickly leave the scene, but just as she was about to push the door and exit, with fresh air from outside the private room flowing into her nostrils, a cry of alarm came from behind her.
The ropes binding Xie Zhu had somehow been untied, and taking advantage of everyone’s inattention, he had jumped directly from the window.
Nanyi looked back, also shocked.
She had thought Xie Sui’an had retreated, but the spy in the room was still unwilling to give up and wanted to continue rescuing Xie Zhu. Unexpectedly, the singing girl had only helped Xie Zhu loosen his ropes so he could make this gesture of dying to prove his integrity.
By jumping from Huachao Pavilion’s private room, Xie Zhu was declaring to all of Li Du Mansion in full view of everyone that he had not betrayed to the Qi. The false impression the Qi people wanted to create naturally crumbled without attack.
The private room was thrown into chaos. The singing girls screamed and wailed, and that spy deliberately led everyone to rush outside. Nanyi also took advantage of the confusion to leave the room.
Gusha had no time to care about this group of women. Looking out from the window, he was so angry smoke came from all seven orifices.
From this height, Xie Zhu wouldn’t die either. There were still Qi soldiers stationed at Huachao Pavilion’s entrance, so no one could possibly rescue him. But the nearby streets and alleys were packed with onlookers, and this scene was seen clearly by the people. The sound of discussion from downstairs grew louder and louder.
“A bunch of useless fools! Why don’t you go drive away those lowly onlookers! Clear this street immediately!”
The Qi generals in the room received their orders and rushed downstairs in haste.
Xie Queshan sat motionless, glancing indifferently at Gusha: “Gusha, you messed up.”
His tone carried some sarcasm.
Gusha twisted his lips, gritting his teeth: “Damn it, I underestimated Xie Zhu. He does have backbone.”
“No matter, the one playing the good cop will arrive soon.”
“Xie Queshan, what do you mean?!” Gusha flew into a rage, roaring at Xie Queshan.
Xie Queshan didn’t answer. He drained the wine in his cup, got up to leave. Just as he opened the door, he saw Huachao Pavilion’s madam appearing outside the door in a panic.
“Master, master… this servant just discovered an unconscious singing girl in the woodshed, and her clothes have been stolen…”
This news was like adding fuel to fire. Gusha was so angry he kicked over the chair in front of him. The lacquered wooden chair couldn’t withstand such force and immediately fell apart. He forced himself to take a deep breath and reacted: “That bastard must still be inside Huachao Pavilion!”
“Seal off Huachao Pavilion and search for the person.” Xie Queshan calmly commanded.
Nanyi thought that as long as she left that room, she would be safe. However, before she could exit the back courtyard, Qi soldiers had sealed off Huachao Pavilion.
It would be difficult to climb over the wall and escape now. If she couldn’t return to Wangxue Manor and was caught here, falling into Gusha’s hands… Nanyi dared not think of the consequences. With old and new grievances, she feared they would all be counted against her.
No wonder Xie Queshan had toyed with her like that—he had anticipated that this trip would be a one-way journey for her.
The sound of Qi soldiers marching in formation through the corridors approached. Nanyi’s heart became confused. Looking around, there was a carriage parked in the back courtyard.
…
The carriage belonged to Xie Queshan.
Catching people was Gusha’s business; he didn’t need to remain at the scene, so he prepared to return to Wangxue Manor. Just as he lifted the felt curtain of the carriage, the light from the full array of lanterns poured into the dim interior, and Xie Queshan saw a young woman crouching inside.
She had removed the tasseled veil, and her face was still covered in heavy makeup, giving her a kind of striking, flamboyant beauty.
He Ping was surprised and was about to speak out, but was stopped by Xie Queshan.
Nanyi stared at Xie Queshan, enormous determination flashing through her eyes. Steeling her heart, she knelt down with a thud.
“My life was given by Young Master. I’m willing to work for Young Master’s life. Whatever Young Master tells me to do, I’ll do.”
Nanyi was definitely a qualified fence-sitter.
When Xie Queshan had told her to watch Xie Sui’an, she hadn’t agreed. But to resolve the current crisis, she could only throw caution to the wind and first display a wave of loyalty. Either way, she couldn’t escape today, so she might as well try to find a solution from Xie Queshan.
Xie Queshan remained noncommittal and stepped on the footstool to enter the carriage.
As the curtain fell, the cramped space was left with only the two of them.
Xie Queshan took his seat, and Nanyi shifted her knees to follow his direction, looking at him with eager eyes, as obedient as could be.
“Really?” Xie Queshan raised an eyebrow.
“Absolutely true, otherwise may I be struck by lightning!” Nanyi swore on the spot. Anyway, she had accumulated enough divine retributions to help immortals transcend tribulations; she didn’t lack this one “sincere” oath.
“You should know that what you promise me cannot be just empty words.”
Nanyi was speechless. She knew lightning wouldn’t really strike her, so she dared to swear casually. But she knew that once Xie Queshan discovered her betrayal, he would really kill her.
Outside, the footsteps of Qi soldiers grew closer and closer.